ColoR the Patronus

Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter's World invites you to color several animal illustrations from Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals) by Swiss naturalist and physician Konrad Gesner, published in 1551. These animals are some of the Patronuses that appear in the Harry Potter series. Harry and his friends learn the Patronus Charm, a spell that produces animal protectors that embody pure happiness and hope from the spell-caster’s memories. Patronuses are the only defense against Dementors, who cause despair.

You can download the Turning The Pages app from the National Library of Medicine to view more illustrations from Historiae Animalium and several other rare medical books and manuscripts from the Library’s collections.

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Doe and Stag. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Harry Potter’s Patronus appears in the form of a stag, as did that of his father, James Potter. Harry Potter’s mother, Lily Potter had a doe Patronus. Severus Snape’s Patronus is also a doe, representing his love for Lily.

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Dogs. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

In the Harry Potter series, Harry’s friend Ron Weasley conjures up a Jack Russell Terrier with his Patronus spell. Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black can not only transform into a large black dog at will, but can cast one as his Patronus also.

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Horse. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Ginny Weasley is Ron’s younger sister and the youngest among the Weasley siblings. Like Harry and Ron, Ginny belongs to Gryffindor House and its Quidditch team at Hogwarts. Her Patronus is a horse.

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Goat. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Aberforth Dumbledore is the estranged brother of Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster and Harry’s mentor. Aberforth owns and works at the Hog’s Head Inn near the Hogwarts School. Aberforth not only keeps goats, but also has a goat as his Patronus.

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Fox. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Seamus Finnigan is the son of a muggle father and a witch mother. At Hogwarts, the sorting hat places him in Gryffindor House, where he shares a dorm quarter with Harry, Ron, Neville, and Dean. Seamus casts a fox with his Patronus Charm to protect his friends from Dementors during the Battle of Hogwarts.

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Otter. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Hermione Granger is a smart and studious witch whose parents are muggles—people without magical abilities. She meets and becomes best friends with Harry and Ron at Hogwarts. While training to fight Voldemort and his followers, Hermione produces an otter Patronus.

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Hare. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Luna Lovegood’s Patronus is a hare. She, Seamus Finnigan, and Ernie Macmillian cast their Patronuses to protect Harry, Ron, and Hermione from Dementors during the Battle of Hogwarts. Afterwards, Luna becomes a renowned wizarding naturalist who discovers many new species of animals.

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Swan. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Cho Chang is a seeker for her Ravenclaw Quidditch team at Hogwarts. Cho joins a secret training class where Harry teaches practical defensive magic in preparation for a battle with Voldemort and his followers. Cho ultimately learns to conjure a swan Patronus.

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Boar. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Ernie Macmillan belongs to Hufflepuff House at Hogwarts. Initially, he doubts Harry’s story of Voldemort’s return, but joins Harry’s secret class to learn defensive magic to fight Voldemort and his followers. Ernie’s Patronus Charm produces a boar.

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Wolf. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Nymphadora Tonks often appears with bubble-gum pink hair, just one of many different looks she can morph into. After marrying Remus Lupin, who became a werewolf after being bitten by one, Tonks’ Patronus takes a form of wolf.

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Cat. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

In the Harry Potter series, two powerful witches have cats as their Patronuses. Minerva McGonagall is an Animagus who transforms into a cat, which is also her Patronus. Dolores Umbridge uses hers to shield against the Dementors waiting to imprison witches and wizards discovered to be muggle-born through her interrogation of them.

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Lynx. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

Kingsley Shacklebolt works in the Ministry of Magic and is a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He sends his lynx Patronus to Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour’s wedding to warn that Voldemort and his followers had taken over the Ministry of Magic.

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Mouse. Historiae Animalium (Studies on animals), Konrad Gesner, 1551

The Harry Potter series tells several ancient stories of the wizarding world. One of them is about Illyius, a legendary young wizard who saved a village from Dementors with his mouse Patronus.